Still in Search of Shaq Backup

The Lakers made no moves Wednesday--the first day teams could trade players who signed multiyear contracts over the summer--but Coach Phil Jackson said that having the best record in the NBA won’t preclude them from searching for roster upgrades, specifically a backup to Shaquille O’Neal.

“Behind Shaq, we’re relatively sparse back there as far as big guys go,” Jackson said. “Right now, we’re just way overloaded on the guard corps. . . .

“We’ve just kind of held out towards this . . . being the time period that things happen for us or happen around the league. So we’re staying tuned to what can possibly happen.”

General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the team received a few phone calls Wednesday but said no trades were imminent.

“It’s still clear we’re thin up front, there’s no doubt,” he said. “We are always looking to improve the team, regardless of what our record might be. [But] at 18-5, we clearly don’t feel as much pressure as we would if we were one of the teams that are 5-18.”

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After a relatively comfortable opening schedule (14 of the 23 games have been at home), the Lakers start their first extended trip tonight in Atlanta, then face three games in three cities in four days--a trip Jackson has said will be a gauge of how far the Lakers have progressed.

“I agree with Phil as far as the trip being a very nice test for us, to see where we are at this point, as far as our ability to execute, play together,” guard Derek Fisher said.

“You know, it’s tougher on the road. One night you can put it together, maybe two nights you can put it together. But now we have four games on the road, and we’ll have to be able to put it together all four nights.”

Tonight

at Atlanta, 4:30 PST

Channel 9 (delayed until 6)

* Site--Philips Arena.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 18-5, Hawks 10-11.

* Record vs. Hawks--1-0.

* Update--For the first time in a long while, O’Neal will be pretty much on even terms with an opposing center. Atlanta’s Dikembe Mutombo, fresh from an 11-for-11 shooting night and an NBA season-high 29 rebounds against Minnesota on Tuesday, leads the league with 15 rebounds a game and his 60.7 field-goal percentage is No. 2, ahead of O’Neal in both categories. O’Neal is No. 2 in rebounding (14.2 rebounds) and third in field-goal percentage (58.7).